For me and I believe many others, spring holds a promise for
newness of life! It's when I look out and dream of new flower
beds, anticipate the coming springs first crops of asparagus and
rhubarb...savoring the memory of their here today, gone tomorrow
presence. I scan the yard and think of all the jobs that I will
have to get done as soon as nicer weather affords me time in my
personal Eden. I anxiously await the first buds to pop on the
lilacs... those small, brave tulips and daffodils, reaching up out
of a cold, hard ground to the warming sunshine ready to burst
forth into simple beauty! I love that first trip out to my potting
shed after the winter... the smell and then the challenge of
tidying up and reorganizing. An early morning stroll through The
Potager scanning for baby lettuces sprouting from scattered
seeds... imagining the bounty and longing for my quiet time that I
am able only to have in my gardens. If you are an avid gardener or
if this is your first season in the dirt, lets look to those
promises and plan on a great new gardening year! Enjoy friends!

Most of my readers know that I love anything to do with
organization and List Making. I could never do without lists... grocery,
housework, to-do, seed inventories or packing for trips (not that
I take many, LOL). Lists make our lives easier, especially for
forgetful folks like me! Today we'll focus on Spring Garden
Jobs. I am attaching a file with my personal list rather
than typing it for you to save and print out if/when you would
like. You have my permission to use and share it with friends for
personal use. (SEE ATTACHMENT). Feel free to add to this list
items that I have not included or delete things that don't pertain
to you.

Keep a journal! A journal can be your best friend
if you let it. Document all the changes you make, take photographs
of major projects, renovations and specific growth of particular
plants that you want to watch mature over years, like trees. I
stand my children beside a newly planted tree and take a photo
every year. It is amazing to see how much they both grow and
change!

I also go over to see what plants will
need to be split, pitched and replaced if died over the winter and
what spots need to be filled in. Keeping these detailed notes
also allows me to remember who may have given a special plant.
Along with the who, what and when there is no more guessing on age
or variety. It also gives you the ability to see what worked and
didn't. I know as a busy wife, mother, farmer, market vendor and
manger, I could never remember everything that I change, plant or
didn't like/work.

Be sure to keep posted, coming up in my next post I will touch on
DRAWING UP YOUR GARDEN PLAN!Planning a Plant Exchange
is a great way to share all those 'splits' you will end up with
this Spring after cleaning up your beds. I know for myself, I can
hardly pitch a plant, it just seems mean! A plant exchange is not
only rewarding and fun, it's a great money saver in the long run. As most of you know I also love to entertain... I
don't get to do it as often as I would like, but when I do I try
to make it special for my guests! I gave all the How-To's last
year on hosting a Plant Exchange (XXXXX), so today I thought I'd
focus on some info on types of plants that transplant well. I
have also added tips on division and transplanting.
Helpful tips to prepare for the Plant Exchange:
(Taken and adapted from Country Gardens Magazine, Spring 2006, pg.
55-57).How to divide, care for and prepare your transplants for the
exchange:
*The best time to divide a plant is shortly after it emerges in
spring.
*Try to divide the plants as close to the plant exchange date/time
as possible.
*Loosen the soil around the plants perimeter and then use a sharp
spade or knife to cut through the roots to divide. Be sure to
keep a large root clump with the plant to ensure successful
transplanting.
*Put your divisions in practical, temporary containers: paper
cups, disposable aluminum muffin cups, tin cans, plastic
containers, plastic plant pots/ terra-cotta pots or any other
container you have handy. Just be sure to add drainage holes to
water tight containers.
*Give a tag/label with each division including: name/variety of
plant, sun/shade requirements, mature plant size- height and
diameter, water/soil requirements, zone hardiness, perennial or
annual. A nice description for 'new' gardeners will be so
appreciated.
*Make sure to plant/water as soon as possible once you have the
plants in their new location.

How to harvest seedlings:*Be sure that the seedlings are at least 3-5 inches tall with
at least 2 sets of true leaves.
*Get all the plants roots.
*Replant the seedling into a small container with appropriate
drainage holes and gently water immediately.

Plants that divide easily and transplant well include:
*Hosta's
*Day Lilies
*Bleeding Heart
*Peony
*Bee's Balm (Monarda)
*Black Eye Susan, Shasta Daisy's and any Coneflowers
*Columbine
*Sedum
*perennial Geraniums
*Hellianthus
*Purple Bellflower
*any early blooming bulbs that have bloomed and died back at least
half way- Snow Drops, Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips
~I always say, if in doubt, do without... so if you are not sure
about one of your plants, ASK! Or look up in a good garden guild
any special tricks that certain plants may have before you divide
if you are not sure.

This is a very favorite recipe in our
home. It was Neil's mothers recipe that she had made and over the
years I have adjusted it a bit to serve our large family. It is
super yummy and worth the efforts in making!

1. Put flour in a large bowl; coat each piece of chicken and place
in a large skillet with hot oil, reserve left over flour; fry
chicken pieces in hot oil until browned all all sides; remove
chicken to plate. Put remaining flour and diced onions in pan and
cook for about 2-3 minutes.
2. Add to skillet and onions: water, paprika, salt and pepper and
cooked chicken; cover and simmer for 1 hour. The water will
thicken as it cooks. Stir occasionally.
3. While chicken is simmering, cook Spaetzel dumpling noodles
according to package directions so they will be ready when
chicken/gravy are done; about 1/2 hour before.
4. When chicken is done, remove from gravy into a bowl; cover to
keep warm; add sour cream to gravy and blend in until dissolved.
5. When dumplings are done put them in a bowl and ladle 1/2 of the
gravy over top and the rest over the chicken.
Serve immediately.

Great post! I agree with you that keeping a garden journal is one of the best things you can do...it definitely assists with planning and keeping track of what works and what doesn't (and where).

NEBRASKA DAVE

2/12/2013 12:50:40 AM

Jean, wow, you sure are ambitious. My spring todo list is not nearly as long as yours. However, when I make it out, I can never remember everything that needs to be done so it grows as the Spring comes closer. My two major spring projects is to build 90 feet of fence from free pallets and to develop a spring to water my garden. Both will most likely not be completed by the end of Spring. I'm hoping to get them completed by the end of the year. Planting time starts here in April for the early plants and May for the warm weather plants. The season ends in October with the first frost happening about the middle of the month.
Have a great planning todo list day.

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